Gain real-world work experience while studying abroad!
At Waikato, we encourage our students to gain hands-on experience to increase knowledge, enhance skills, and develop industry connections.
Intern in a New Zealand based organisation while studying abroad for a trimester at the University of Waikato. Through hands-on experience, you will increase your knowledge while enhancing your business acumen and developing invaluable industry connections.
Study abroad and exchange students have the exciting opportunity to take advantage of the work-integrated learning experiences offered at the University of Waikato. You will spend your time in an organisation applying your knowledge to solve a real-world problem or contributing to a live project. Completing an internship alongside your academic studies will give you practical skills and enhance your employability, both at home and in New Zealand.
The Study + Intern programme is open to all majors offered at the University of Waikato!
Our internship placements include opportunities in a variety of organisations, including non-profit, corporate, and government sectors. Our placement process is professional and comprehensive. We work hard to find exciting and suitable placements for all our students.
Internship Details
Time per week: 15 hours, spread over 2-3 days (the days will depend on your scheduled academic class times)
Total time at internship: 180 hours
Credit: 15 points at 300 level
(3-4 US credits or 7.5 ECTS)
Workload: You will be enrolled in 2-3 other academic courses as well as your 'internship course'. All together comprising of a full-time trimester workload. Your internship course won't have scheduled classes but will have academic components required.
Note: This is an unpaid internship.
Programme includes
- Internship placement at a locally based organisation
- Video interview before arriving in New Zealand
- Pre-internship toolkit
- Orientation briefing
- Official role description for your placement
- A dedicated supervisor at the organisation
- End of placement evaluation
- Tuition (full-time academic workload including the internship paper)
- 15 credit point internship paper
- Student fees
- Airport pick-up
- Official transcript
Applications Close
A Trimester (February - June): 1 December
B Trimester (July - November): 1 May
To Apply
Send the following documents to [email protected]
- CV/resume
- Cover letter
- Internship Application Form
Placement Process
- Complete the study abroad application on our website.
- Apply for your internship by submitting the following to [email protected]:
- CV/resume
- Cover letter
- Internship Application Form
- Video call with your internship placement manager to understand your interests and background.
- Interview via video call with organisation.
- If you and the internship site are happy to proceed, then you will be presented an internship offer. We work hard to ensure our students are happy with their first offer.
- Once you have accepted the offer, you will be given:
- Role description
- Pre-internship toolkit
- Confirmation paperwork
- Internship site details
- Internship supervisor details
- Agreed upon dates and times
- University of Waikato internship paper enrolment details
Academic Requirements
Once you have begun your internship, you will receive regular communication from your internship placement manager to ensure everything goes well with your placement.
You will have academic requirements to fulfill, including a final paper, which is outlined by your internship course and supervisor. At the end of your internship, your supervisor will submit an evaluation about the work you have completed during your internship.
It is expected that you enrol in an internship paper - the paper should be specific to your major. If you don't want or need the academic credit for your internship, please talk to your academic or international advisor about your work/study load.
Check out all of our work-integrated learning papers to see which is the best fit for you!
Work-integrated Learning Courses
Notes:
The cost includes the tuition for a full trimester's workload and internship placement.
Conditions:
You may be liable for a $500 withdrawal fee from the internship programme if you withdraw your application after the final application closing date.
Examples of Internships
Water and Atmospheric Research
Students work on various ecotechnologies, such as constructed wetlands and algal nutrient scrubbers for the treatment of wastewaters and sludges, and diffuse run-off from farms. Students may also assist with their range of mesocosm systems set up on local farms and at wastewater treatment plants.
Agricultural Research
An internship with the Animal Behaviour and Welfare Team gives insight into how a Crown Research Institute is operating. During the internship, they participate in team/science meetings and daily research activities, such as organising trial gear, downloading and setting up equipment, recording animal behaviour data from video recordings, and attending any animal work that the team is undertaking as an observer.
Landcare
Students can assist with vegetation management and pest control, ecological surveys and monitoring.
Business Analysis
Students have the chance to assist a local business with business analysis. Tasks may include:
- Helping design and build Microsoft templates.
- Business process and systems documentation, analysis and mapping.
- Website and web application development.
- Aiding the project manager in change management.
- Research in best practice for various areas of the business.
Finance
These internships may involve the following tasks:
- Integrating data into quarterly and annual reports.
- Process mapping - holding conversations with a number of parties, and compiling this information into a visual format.
- Management reporting and analysis – primarily Microsoft Excel based, including tables, charts, data linking and formulas.
- Detailed data extraction and analysis (SAS, MS Access), including setting up report/query formats.
Contact Us
Study Abroad and Exchange - International Office
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +64 7 837 9405